UNIT - 1
Short Stories
Neighbours
Understanding the text
1. Answer the following questions.
a. Describe how the young couple’s house looked like.
The house was small, but thanks to high ceilings and panned windows which gave a feel of an elegant cottage. Rooftops, used car yards, a park where they walked their dog were all visible from the young man’s study window.
b. How did the young couple identify their neighbours at the beginning of their arrival?
The young couple's impression of their new neighbours was not amusing. They were constantly pestered by loud noises, screams. They despised being interfered with. They didn't like the fact their daily lifestyle was being judged.
c. How did the neighbours help the young could in the kitchen garden?
Young couples removed trash from their backyard and ploughed and manured the soil in the autumn. They also planted cabbage, brussels sprouts which made neighbours peek and suggest a few words regarding spacing, hilling and mulching. They also provided a bag of garlic cloves to plant.
d. Why were the people in the neighbourhood surprised at the role of the young man and his wife in their family?
Most people in the neighbourhood were boomers. They were all settled down families with children. They were from different generations. So the fact that the young man chose to stay home and let his wife work bugged them.
e. How did the neighbours respond to the woman's pregnancy?
As soon as they realized the young woman was pregnant. They couldn’t help but smile. They kept showering her with gifts. Italian ladies kept on offering names. The woman next door started knitting a baby suit. That made the young woman flattered, claustrophobic, grateful and annoyed.
f. Why did the young man begin to weep at the end of the story?
The young man began to weep at the end of the story as he was overwhelmed with happiness, excitement. Seeing neighbour support made him loosen the fear of not being a capable dad because he would have them by his side and won't be alone.
g. Why do you think the author did not characterize the person in the story with proper names?
There is not a single character with a name in this story. This is because writer Tim wants to show cultural ethnicity. There are many characters and small stories so to avoid the problem of too much information and to keep the reader invested in the story he chose not to give them distinctive names.
Reference to the context
a. The story shows that linguistic and cultural barriers do not create any obstacles in human relationships. Cite some examples from the story where the neighbours have transcended such barriers.
We can see early in the story how difficult it was to adapt among people with whom you don't share your culture nor your language. But as time passed, the young couple blended in. This story proves that linguistic and cultural barriers do not create any obstacles in human relationships.
When young couples decided to grow a garden, neighbours approached and provided advice regarding spacing, hilling and mulching. The Polish widower next door helped them build a henhouse. They all were as excited as the couple were to hear about the young woman’s pregnancy. It shows how neighbours have transcended such barriers.
b. The last sentence of the story reads “The twentieth-century novel had not prepared him for this.” In your view, what differences did the young man find between twentieth-century novels and human relations?
The Young man was spending all his time writing a thesis on a twentieth-century novel. He was all into characters, plot development but when he became a father he realized life is not a novel. When he stood there looking at his neighbours he realized what he was missing in his novel that you are not alone and unlike novels, they have to deal with a variety of unpredictable problems. Everything doesn’t go well. They didn’t plan the baby but there they were looking at the baby. To overcome such situations, one must prepare himself in a way books don’t teach. And turn those feared moments into one of the most memorable.
c. A Nepali proverb says “ Neighbors are companions for weddings as well as for funeral procession.” Does this proverb apply in the story? Justify.
This proverb can fit as the conclusion of the story. As in the story, young couples did have parents but when a young woman gave birth neighbours were by the side comforting them with smiles on their faces. They gave suggestions regarding gardening, they helped build the henhouse. They knitted suits, gave names. When anything happens, Neighbors are nearest and the first ones to help. So as the proverb says they are the company for happiness as well as sadness.
d. The author has dealt with the issue of multiculturalism in the story. Why do you think multiculturalism has become a major issue in the present world?
Multiculturalism refers to the presence of diversity in culture in a community. The major problem is a language barrier and often misunderstanding due to traditional and cultural differences.
Now the world is like a small village. Due to the development of technology in this modern world, no one can remain in solitude. As we get closer, more problems are often to be tackled. Language and culture cause misunderstanding and conflicts either in school or the workplace. Due to ethnic diversity and discrimination various social problems such as ethnic wars, high crime rates, civil wars.
Reference beyond the context
b. Do the people in your community respond with similar reactions upon the pregnancy and childbirth as depicted in the story? Give a couple of examples.
Childbirth is a process of bringing a new body into life, with a pure soul, the child exists in his mother's warm womb to face the harsh reality. Childbirth is remarkable for couples as they become parents who are responsible for someone's future. They are the ones to raise and that is a heavyweight on their shoulders which makes them mature. People in our community are way excited about someone's pregnancy more than anything. As a patriarchal society, women are bound within the house and taking care of it. So other women start showering with advice, clothes. There are many celebrations such as bhatkhoi, nwaran and so many others which are made to enjoy and perish every moment as the child grows.
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